Saturday, Feb. 18, the 2023 Donald H. Humphreys Barton County Spelling Bee took place at the Great Bend High School auditorium. This spelling bee was sponsored by the Great Bend Kiwanis Club. Passionate speller Donald H. Humphreys passed in 2008 but his legacy remains with the spelling bee. 

This year’s Barton County Spelling Bee champion was fifth grader Christian Garcia from Riley Elementary in Great Bend. In the last round he had to correctly spell “angora” and “gargantuan” to secure his first place spot. 

The runner up was sixth grader Evan Mason from Eisenhower Elementary in Great Bend. In a head-to-head-style final round, Mason had to go against fifth grader Matias Garcia-Smith from Hoisington’s Lincoln Elementary School to secure his runner-up spot. 

Mason had to correctly spell “designer” and “flourish.” Matias bowed out with the word “moxie.” 

Judges included Jay Luerman, Suresh Maharjan, and Barb Esfeld for this event, and Julie Carroll announced the words for the 22 participants. 12 schools were to provide a champion and a runner up for the county spelling bee. A couple of students were not present.

The winner and alternate will advance to the Sunflower State Spelling Bee March 25 at Newman University in Wichita.

The schools involved were Great Bend’s Central Kansas Christian Academy, Holy Family, Eisenhower Elementary, Riley Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Park Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Great Bend Middle School; Hoisington’s Lincoln Elementary, Hoisington Middle School; and Ellinwood’s St. Joseph Catholic School, Ellinwood Grade School